Int’l mediators condemn use of force on Armenia-Azerbaijan frontline
OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict have "strongly condemned" the use of force on
Azerbaijani-Armenian troops contact line and said they "regret the
senseless loss of life".
According to reports of the Defense Ministries of Armenia and Azerbaijan, an armed incident took place during the night of June 18-19, in the northern part of the line of contact, resulting in casualties.
"Such an incident is an unacceptable violation of the 1994 Ceasefire Agreement and is contrary to the stated commitment of the sides to refrain from the use of force or the threat of the use of force", says a statement released Monday by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Igor Popov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United States.
The statement notes that the incident occurred immediately after a meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders, held in St. Petersburg on June 17 at the invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to pursue a negotiated settlement to the long-standing dispute.
"The use of military force, particularly at this moment, can only be seen as an attempt to damage the peace process," the statement said.
The co-chairs called upon the sides "to exercise restraint on the terrain as well as in their public communications" and prepare their people for peace and not for war.
According to the statement, the mediators reiterated that there is no alternative to a peaceful solution of the conflict and that war is not an option.
Finally, the co-chairs urged the sides to cooperate fully with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and "do nothing that would impede his monitoring activities".*
According to reports of the Defense Ministries of Armenia and Azerbaijan, an armed incident took place during the night of June 18-19, in the northern part of the line of contact, resulting in casualties.
"Such an incident is an unacceptable violation of the 1994 Ceasefire Agreement and is contrary to the stated commitment of the sides to refrain from the use of force or the threat of the use of force", says a statement released Monday by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Igor Popov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United States.
The statement notes that the incident occurred immediately after a meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders, held in St. Petersburg on June 17 at the invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to pursue a negotiated settlement to the long-standing dispute.
"The use of military force, particularly at this moment, can only be seen as an attempt to damage the peace process," the statement said.
The co-chairs called upon the sides "to exercise restraint on the terrain as well as in their public communications" and prepare their people for peace and not for war.
According to the statement, the mediators reiterated that there is no alternative to a peaceful solution of the conflict and that war is not an option.
Finally, the co-chairs urged the sides to cooperate fully with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and "do nothing that would impede his monitoring activities".*
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